Chapter 433 — Thanksgiving

Seeing that his son-in-law was on his side, Dou Huaiying was secretly pleased and found him ever more agreeable. "I hear your family's second son is to be married soon? Have you fixed the date for sending the betrothal gifts? We shall come and join the merrymaking when the time comes."

Dou Huaiying knew that Song Han's origins were somewhat tangled, but he had always regarded such things as the grudges of the older generation, having nothing to do with Song Han himself. So long as Song Han remained Song Yan's younger brother, he, as Song Yan's father-in-law, would do him the courtesy of saving face.

Song Yan looked upon Dou Huaiying as a father and was naturally unwilling to draw him into such sordid affairs. He hastened to smile and say, "Since this is a marriage by imperial grace, there are many formalities. The date for sending the betrothal gifts and fixing the wedding must first be submitted to the palace for instruction—a troublesome business. When the time comes, I shall send someone from Zi'ai Peak to invite you."

The implication was that he should not trouble himself over it.

Dou Huaiying thought Song Yan's words very reasonable. He was a man who disliked social obligations, and he was well satisfied with such an arrangement.

Dou Yan had returned to her parents' home for a short stay and was lodged in the east wing of the upper courtyard, while Song Yan was given the small study in the east wing. Having nothing to do, Dou Yan sent a maid for her needlework, and sat stitching while she listened to Dou Huaiying and Song Yan talk.

Dou Bingheng arrived unexpectedly.

Dou Huaiying was greatly surprised. "At this hour?"

The curfew had already fallen over the city.

He handed the child to Dou Yan and said, "I will go and see."

Song Yan rose to see Dou Huaiying out and reassured him, "Things have been calm in the palace these past days. Perhaps Fifth Uncle has come to you about some other matter."

Dou Huaiying nodded and went to the study in the outer courtyard.

Dou Bingheng was still in his official robes, seated in the grand armchair in the study drinking tea. Seeing Dou Huaiying enter, he wasted no courtesy but came straight to the point: "The Emperor wishes to begin the Imperial Grandson's education, and I intend to recommend you to lecture on the Thousand Family Poems. Are you confident you can do it?"

Dou Huaiying, however, was a man unwilling to be entangled in such things. He frowned and said, "My temperament is cold and withdrawn. Has Fifth Brother no other candidate?"

"Sixth Brother is even less suitable!" said Dou Bingheng. "He seems steady, but he pays no heed to small matters. Sending him into the palace would be his ruin."

Dou Huaiying felt the matter had come too suddenly and was not as simple as Dou Bingheng made it out to be. Remembering that Song Yan was under his roof, he could not help saying, "Let me think it over carefully."

After all, this was the tutoring of the Imperial Grandson, the future heir to the throne. Dou Bingheng had not expected Dou Huaiying to agree at once, and nodded. He inquired about Dou Huaiying's scholarship, then rose to take his leave.

Dou Huaiying saw him to the main gate.

Catching sight of the carriage waiting in the sedan hall, he struck his forehead in sudden recollection. "Yantang has come?"

"Indeed!" Dou Huaiying's face broke into a smile at the mention of his son-in-law. "He has come to see Shouyuan and Yuanheng, and I have kept him for the night. Since I did not know what business you had with me, I did not have him come along."

Dou Bingheng said, "It grows late. I shall not see him. Tell him for me." Then he hurried into his sedan chair.

Dou Huaiying, keeping a watchful mind, ordered a young servant to follow.

The servant returned and reported, "Fifth Master has gone toward Chang'an Street."

The offices of the Six Ministries, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review all stood on Chang'an Street.

Dou Huaiying gave a sound of acknowledgment. Returning to the east wing, he told Song Yan of Dou Bingheng's purpose in coming.

Song Yan broke into a cold sweat.

If Dou Huaiying agreed to tutor the Imperial Grandson, he would be branded as the Crown Prince's man. Should the Prince of Liao succeed in his ambitions, would not Dou Huaiying be ruined?

He hastened to say, "Thank goodness, Father-in-law, you are open and aboveboard, unswayed by power and position, and did not agree to Fifth Uncle at once. Fifth Uncle is so urgent in this—I suspect it has much to do with the several ministers of the Grand Secretariat. Let me make a round of the palace tomorrow, and it will not be too late for you to decide then."

Dou Huaiying felt greatly comforted to hear this and nodded again and again. Seeing the hour was late, he repeatedly charged them to look after Yuanheng, and then went to his room to rest.

Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled, teasing Song Yan: "Your father-in-law, open and aboveboard, unswayed by power and position?"

Song Yan said with a solemn face, "I meant every word! Were it anyone else, knowing he might become the Emperor's tutor, he would likely agree on the spot. Only a man as indifferent to fame and gain as Father-in-law would hesitate." He added, "I am not mistaken in my judgment of people."

Dou Yan could only sigh.

It seemed that even between people there was such a thing as fate.

In her former life, Wei Fan had thought her father weak and incompetent; in this life, with Song Yan, she found her father's conduct to be indifference to fame and gain.

She could not help setting down her needlework and said gently, "You must go into the palace again tomorrow—best rest early. This place is not so close to Chang'an Street as home; you will likely have to rise at the hour of the tiger."

Song Yan winked at her and said in a low voice, "Will you not keep me company?"

Dou Yan gave him a light pinch at the waist. "I will deal with you when we are home."

Song Yan laughed heartily and went back to the southern room, which had been made into a small study.

Dou Yan, meanwhile, rested with the child and the wet nurse in the northern room.

Early the next morning, while Dou Yan and the child were still asleep, Song Yan and Dou Huaiying had already left the Heming Temple Lane together.

Dou Huaiying went to the Hanlin Academy, and Song Yan to the duty room of the Jinwu Guard in the palace.

His colleagues came forward one after another to congratulate Song Han on his imperial marriage.

Song Yan smiled and returned each courtesy. Only Dong Qi, with a half-smile, glanced at Song Yan and remarked blandly, "Truly double happiness for the Song family," before withdrawing to his own duty room.

Families of any standing all had their own channels for gathering news, and it was no secret that the Empress Dowager Yi and Consort Miao were at odds. That Song Han was to marry Consort Miao's grandniece—no one who knew the inside story would consider it a good match.

In times past, Song Yan would have racked his brains to ruin this marriage, but now... he did not take it to heart at all.

Having changed into his court robes and made a round of the palace, Song Yan was still hesitating over whether to seek news directly from Wang Yuan, the eunuch of the Vermilion Brush, or to sit a while in the Court of Receptions, when he came face to face with the palanquin of the Crown Prince.

Song Yan stepped aside to avoid it.

But one of the Crown Prince's personal attendants hurried over and said respectfully, "Lord Song, His Highness Prince Zhaohua asks you to come and speak with him."

Song Yan went forward and paid his respects to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "I have just come from the Hall of the Golden Throne. His Majesty is deliberating with several of the Grand Secretaries in the study. Come along with me and sit a while in the Eastern Palace."